Former tax official pleads guilty to drug charges

Roberts

Dawson County's former chief tax appraiser will spend the next 12 months on probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor drug charges.

Roberts, 37, who had held the position for two years, was arrested May 7 at his office. He was charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and possession of a drug-related object. He resigned a day later.

In the negotiated plea last week, Roberts was sentenced as a first offender to 12 months for each count to run concurrently.

He was ordered to spend the first 24 hours of his sentence in jail, followed by the remainder on probation, according to court records.

He must also perform 40 hours of community service, waive his Fourth Amendment rights, undergo substance abuse evaluation and treatment and pay fines, fees and court costs totaling $1,480.

According to Dawson County Sheriff's Maj. Tony Wooten, Roberts' arrest stemmed from a tip that an odor of marijuana was coming from his vehicle in the government center parking lot.

A search of the car uncovered a small amount of marijuana, and Roberts was taken into custody at his office on the first floor of the government center.

Hired as a field technician with the department in 2001, Roberts was promoted to deputy appraiser in 2006 and assumed the role of chief appraiser on April 18, 2011.